Sydney Usman has questioned the actions of activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, accusing him of departing from the activist principles he once publicly championed following the criminal case involving Onwuka Chimezie, popularly known as Mezie.
Sydney, in a post on his Facebook page, recalled Adeyanju’s arrest and detention during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that the activist was detained for 78 days at the Kano Prison over a murder charge in a case that had previously been discharged and acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to Sydney, the first of two photographs he shared was taken around September 2018, several months before Adeyanju’s arrest. He said the second photograph was taken weeks later and showed protesters wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Deji Must Not Die.”
Sydney said he was among those who mobilised against Adeyanju’s detention, alongside Raphael Adebayo, Emmanuel Ejeh, the late Ariyo Atoye, Paul Moses, popularly known as “MadMo,” Bayi Nyass and others.
He said the group marched on the streets, granted interviews, issued press statements and mobilised public support for Adeyanju’s release during what he described as the “tyrannical” Buhari administration.
Sydney also highlighted the role of Festus Keyamo, who he said handled Adeyanju’s case at the time. According to him, Keyamo was then a spokesperson for Buhari’s presidential campaign and Adeyanju’s attorney, and currently serves as the Minister of Aviation under President Bola Tinubu.
He said Adeyanju was eventually released after spending 78 days in detention, describing the circumstances surrounding the case as raising serious questions about double jeopardy.
However, Sydney said it was now ironic that Adeyanju is pursuing a criminal case against Chimezie at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with proceedings scheduled for October 6, 2026.
Sydney argued that Adeyanju’s present legal action raises questions about the activist’s transformation from someone who once campaigned against perceived state repression to an individual now seeking the criminal prosecution of another activist for alleged speech.
He recalled that Adeyanju had previously participated in and led protests alongside Sydney and other activists at the National Assembly against proposed restrictions on social media and internet freedom.
Sydney specifically referenced the campaigns conducted under the hashtags #KillSocialMediaBillNow and #InternetNoBeEnemy, which he said reflected Adeyanju’s previous opposition to attempts to criminalise or restrict expression.
“The ex-activist is today trying every means possible to jail a revolutionary for speaking,” Sydney alleged.
He further argued that Adeyanju owes an explanation to those who risked their lives on the streets and in hideouts while campaigning for his freedom during his detention under the Buhari administration.
Sydney questioned why Adeyanju did not pursue damages over what he described as his “78 unholy, mindless, unlawful detention and double trial.”
He also raised questions about whether any settlement was reached privately following Adeyanju’s release.
“Deji Adeyanju owes everyone who risked their lives on the streets and in hideouts demanding his release under the tyrannical Muhammadu Buhari regime an explanation of what transpired behind closed doors, if any,” Sydney wrote.
He demanded answers from Adeyanju on the circumstances surrounding his 2018 detention, his subsequent activism against restrictions on freedom of expression and his current legal battle involving Chimezie.
The allegations and questions raised by Sydney are contained in his Facebook post and have not, in the material provided, been independently established.